Woman Arrested After High-Speed Chase, Ramming Police Cruisers

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Electra Chiulli, a 33-year-old resident of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, was arrested on Thursday after allegedly ramming state police cruisers and leading troopers on a high-speed pursuit along Interstate 395, according to a news release from the Connecticut State Police.

Pursuit and Gas Station Confrontation on Route 97

State troopers first encountered Chiulli at approximately 3 p.m. driving a black Subaru Legacy on state Route 2 in Bozrah, according to official reports. Police noted the vehicle was missing its front license plate and failing to maintain its lane. An immediate records check revealed that Chiulli was wanted on an active arrest warrant stemming from a previous pursuit involving Old Saybrook police one week prior.

According to the Connecticut State Police, a trooper followed the Subaru until it stopped at a gas station on state Route 97 in Norwich, where backup units arrived. Law enforcement officers utilized a box-in technique around the car to prevent her from fleeing due to her history of eluding police. However, Chiulli refused to exit the vehicle. When officers broke out a rear window, she put the car in reverse, accelerated into the driver’s side door of a state police cruiser, struck a fuel pump while moving backward, and then rammed a second cruiser to clear the parking lot. Officials confirmed that no injuries were sustained by law enforcement personnel or the public during the confrontation.

Crash in Lisbon and K-9 Capture

Following the gas station escape, Chiulli drove northbound onto Interstate 395 at a high rate of speed, according to state police accounts. She exited the highway at Exit 19, continued along state Route 169, and ultimately crashed her vehicle into a guardrail while attempting a left turn onto Strnad Road in Lisbon.

After the crash, Chiulli fled the scene on foot. Troopers located her hiding under the deck of a nearby home with the assistance of a K-9 unit. According to police, officers discovered bundles of suspected narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia surrounding her hiding spot. She was taken into custody without further incident and transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Charges and Court Appearance

Chiulli faces an extensive list of criminal charges filed by law enforcement, including improper number of marker plates, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, and evading responsibility following a collision. Additional charges include possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, criminal attempt at assault on a public safety officer, first-degree reckless endangerment, three counts of first-degree criminal mischief, and two counts of interfering with an officer.

According to online court records, she is currently held on a $500,000 bond. Chiulli has not yet entered a plea and is scheduled to appear in Norwich Superior Court on April 15, 2025.

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